Up to date news & talk at:

neracing fans forum!

By George Campbell

Seven-time American-Canadian Tour champion Brian Hoar held on to win the two segment ACT All-Star Challenge at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The former New Hampshire Motor Speedway Track Champion had never visited victory lane at the Magic Mile despite an impressive seven top-fives and nine top-10 finishing positions between NASCAR's K&N Pro Series East and the American-Canadian Tour there. Today he can finally add a checkered flag to his accomplishments.

"We had a hot rod all week," said Hoar. "I think Eddie and I were kind of the class of the field. I was looking forward to racing with him, but I'm not really sure what happened to his car. It was just an incredible run. I had a lot of anxiety starting from back in 35th, but this track is awesome for these cars. It's a lot of fun when we can get three or four wide."

First segment winner Eddie MacDonald had raced through the 44 car field in the second segment with Hoar as the two appeared to have the cars to beat. But while under a caution, MacDonald's ignition died ending his day.

The victory was the 32nd of Hoar's ACT career and came in the first-ever ACT Late Model Tour points race held at New England's largest speedway.

“This is unbelievable,” Hoar said. “I've been after this thing for 10 years or so with the (NASCAR K&N Pro Series East) cars and now these ACT cars. We've had an awesome car every time we've come here.”

Hoar won the second 50-lap segment of the day after starting 35th in the RPM Motorsports No. 37 GossCars.com Dodge and finished second in the first 25-lap segment for a three-point total in the Monza-style scored event.

Brian and team in victory lane. G. Campbell photo

“This is really special. This is our Daytona 500,” car owner and crew chief Rick Paya said. “This is going to be one of our pride and joys. Brian and I have always talked about what a special place this is to win.”

“I had a lot of anxiety starting back in 35th at the start of this deal, but this track just races out super with these cars,” Hoar said. “It's a lot of fun to run three- and four-wide. I've got to hand it to the entire field of cars, because I'm running up the outside of people three-and four-wide coming up off of Turn 4 and going 'God, I'm praying they give me a lane.'

Hoar, maintained his ACT points lead and is on his way to an unprecedented eighth ACT championship. With the win Hoar captured his fifth win of the season and continues his season long streak of top-10 finishes.

Austin Theriault, Brian Hoar and Patrick Laperle after the race. 

Austin Theriault of Fort Kent, Maine, Patrick Laperle of St.-Denis, QC, Brad Leighton of Center Harbor, N.H. and Joey Laquerre of East Montpelier, Vt. rounded out the top-five finishing positions. MacDonald was credited with 18th.

Theriault of Fort Kent, Maine, matched his career-best ACT Late Model Tour finish, finishing second in the inaugural ACT All-Star Challenge at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday. He used an impressive drive from 32nd to second in the second 50-lap segment of the event, pulling the No. 57 Varney Insurance Ford within half a car length at the checkered flag of winning the most prestigious event on the ACT Late Model Tour.

“What an incredible day,” the 17-year-old Theriault said. “I think it's all about track position here, but we did pass some cars. I'll be honest, I'm kind of surprised – but we'll definitely take it. I don't know how hard (winner Brian Hoar) was going at the end, but we were catching him.”

Order your copy of 

Busch North Scene: A Ten Year Retrospective 

HERE

See information on the next book here!